Gideon gets to Pole position

In April of this year Andrew Broughton-Taylor of Birmingham South West Branch (Left in picture), along with five others calling themselves "6 Ordinary Men" Nigel Warwick, Paul Taroni, Alex Parker, Brian Amos, and John Donovan went to the North Pole, led by experienced polar explorer Alan Chambers, and Dr Ed Coats of "On Thin Ice" fame, when he was filmed racing to the South Pole.

We had come together a few years ago with the aim of raising £250,000.00 for the children's charity SPARKS. We had already completed a few challenges together climbing Kilimanjaro, walking Dartmoor and Exmoor, cycling London to Paris and Coast to Coast, so we knew each other pretty well and we all got on.

We flew into Svalbard, a large island north of mainland Norway, where we acclimatised, got used to walking on skis, and packed our sledges which we were to pull to the Pole. Weight was critical and there was no room for unnecessary items.

Each year the Russians set up Ice Station Barneo for three weeks of the year. It is sited approximately fifty miles from the pole.  To help pay for this they allow the base to be a stop off for a little North Pole "tourism".
A runway is prepared on the ice and there are flights from Svalbard most days over this period, weather and runway permitting.

Arriving at Barneo late in the day we were then helicoptered out to our starting point on the ice. As the helicopter lifted off and left us in the white wilderness of the Arctic, we looked at each other and just wondered what we had let ourselves in for.

The trek to the North Pole took six days and along the way we experienced temperatures of between -25 to-35 degrees centigrade, a complete white out when we were confined to our tents for a full day, open water, many ice rubble walls to climb over and twenty four hours daylight.

People, who had experienced the Arctic, had told me that it was a great time for thinking.

However, I have to say that I was so concerned on staying upright on my skis and getting over the next obstacle, that I did little thinking.
We put in a few long days before arriving at the Pole which meant that the last day was a relatively easy four mile trek. We therefore arrived at the Pole relatively strong and in high spirits. After a few obligatory photos, hugs, tears, and toasts' I presented the whole team with PWT's.

I made mention to the fact that we had only got to the North Pole because we had followed a Satellite navigation bearing, and that we were led by an experienced team. I contrasted this with our ordinary life situation, and that in many instances we were quite happy to be directionless and not to accept guidance or instruction. I then suggested that by regularly reading their New Testament and Psalms, they could find guidance and wisdom to help them as they navigated life. I am pleased to say all accepted and many gave them me back to me so that I could add a personal verse for them.
I have to add, I feel extremely blessed to have seen an aspect of creation which most do not see, this goes to add to the Majesty of our God.

The experience will live with us all for the rest of our lives.

PS. Part of our journey was filmed for a program being made about Ice Station Barneo. It is due to be screened on Channel 5 in October. I apologise in advance for some of the language of my colleagues.    

(To see better quality images, please click on the thumbnails)